Water pressure governor



July 15, 1941.

O. J. KUENHOLD, ySR

WATER PREssURE'GovERNoR Filed March 21, 1939 Vn. 5 67 @m9 2 ..H n 4i mf; 5 M 4. 2 43 2m INVENTOR. OTTO J. KUENHOLD Sr. ./qm

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1941 unirse waren rarissima covannoa Gtto J. Kuenhold, Sr., Shaker Heights, Ghio, assigner to Monmouth Products Company, vCleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 2l, 1939, Serial No. 263,264

1 Claim.

The present invention relates as indicated to a water pressure governor and has particular reference to a novel construction designed and developed for the primary purpose of incorporation in a humidifying system or a Water level control apparatus, such as set forth and described in my copending applications Serial Nos. 263,263 and 263,266, fled March 21, 1939.

The primary requisite of such a Water pressure control governor is that it be so constructed and adapted to pass a relatively small amount of water flow, such as only a few gallons of water per day, and at a comparatively loW delivery pressure. In the humidifying systems where the Water pressure governor embodying the principle of my present invention is adapted to be used, the inlet pressure, for example, ranges from 30 to 195 pounds per square inch, the outlet pressure usually about four or five pounds per square inch, and the rate of flow ranges from 2 to 24 gallons per day.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing- Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the water pressure governor constructed according to the principle of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water pressure governor taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detailed section of the inlet orifice.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, the water pressure governor shown therein comprises the end housing members or flanges 24 and 25 which are spaced apart by the intermediate or body housing member 23, being held in assembled relationship by means of the longitudinal fastening bolts 22. The housing member 24 has an inlet port I communicating with the inlet orifice or valve seat fitting 2 which in turn leads into the annular inlet chamber 3. A cross passage 4 leads from the inlet passage 3 to the longitudinal passage 5. The passage 5 of course has its terminal ends in the housing members 24 and 25 and extends completely through the spring I2, and a small diameter stem portion whose end contacts one side of the flexible diaphragm Ill, directly opposite the outlet orifice of the valve seat 2.

The spring I2 is mounted at each end upon the adjusting screws I5, so that longitudinal movement of the screws I5 in turn operate to determine the amount of spring tension exerted against the movement of the plunger II, and

hence the outlet pressure of the governor. An annular or ring-shaped chamber I6 is provided on the right hand or down stream side of the flexible diaphragm I4, The purpose of the provision of the annular chamber I6 is to stretch slightly the diaphragm I4, in order to compensate for Iany buckling which might develop in the diaphragm and in order to -insure a proper and tight tting closure of the latter as it is forced against the valve seat 2.

A key II is mounted in the intermediate housing member 23 and has its inner end milled off into a flat portion I8 which is adapted to contact with ,one side of the shoulder portion II of the plunger II. A manipulating handle, in the form of a bar I 9 is mounted in the outer end of the key I'I and the locking pin 2|, whose end fits into such groove, prevents longitudinal displacement of the key I'I.

The operating principle of the above described structure is as follows: The water enters through port I, valve seat 2 into annular space. 3 from which it flows through cross passage 4, Fig. 4,

longitudinal passage 5, cross passage 6 into cir' cular space 'I and out at 8.

The outlet pressure in chamber l is effective againt outlet diaphragm 9 -to move valve plunger H toward the inlet so that'plunger stem I3 will flex the inlet diaphragm I4 toward the central valve seat 2 to close it more or less. 'Ihis movement of the valve plunger is resisted by the flat spring I2 which is held at each end by screws I5, Fig. 3, as shown. The elastic stiffness of the spring and adjustment of the screws I5 determine at what outlet pressure the valve is closed. The outlet end of the valve plunger presents an enlarged area against the outlet diaphragm and the extreme movement of this plunger toward the outlet, impelled by the spring I2, is limited by a ledge 26, Fig. 3, in the outlet chamber. The valve plunger movement toward the inlet, impelled by the outlet pressure and resisted by the spring I2, Fig. 3 is limited by the center of the inlet diaphragm being pressed against the valve seat by the stem I3, Fig. 4 of the valve plunger. The extent of the movement of the valve plunger during actual service is extremely small, normally less than one-thousandth of an inch.

The stem I3 of the valve plunger is slightly rounded at the circumference as indicated in Fig. 5. The edge of the hole for the valve stem is similarly rounded at the circumference. To close the valve, only the center of the diaphragm I4 is slightly protruded toward the valve seat by the plunger.

When thehandle I9 of the key Il is twisted in either direction (by hand) the milled end of the key engages the portion II of the plunger and presses it toward the outlet end, forcing the valve wide open. Water at full supply pressure then rushes through the passages of the pressure governor and all connected tubing valves and fittings (not here shown, but described in further detail in my aforesaid copending application), iiushing them clear of any deposits. The Water velocity will be especially high at any restricted passages, such as iine valve ports, where the deposits accumulate. The shaft I1 fits freely in its opening so that, after the owner has twisted the key to purge the system, the key will be returned to the neutral position shown by Fig. 4, by the outlet water pressure effective to press the valve plunger toward the inlet.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

A water pressure governor of the character described comprising a body housing member, end body members secured to opposite ends thereof, one of said end members having an inlet orifice and the other an outlet orifice, flexible diaphragms secured between the end members and said body member in planes normal to the axes of said orices, a plunger interposed between said diaphragms in alignment with said orifices and engaging the diaphragms to transmit movement of the diaphragm adjacent the outlet oriceto the other diaphragm, said plunger having two shoulders thereon, a leaf spring engaging one of said shoulders to control the strokes of the plunger, screws passing through one of the end members and engaging the ends of the spring to adjust the same, and a key for engaging the other shoulder and operable to move the plunger away from the inlet orifice.

OTTO J. KUENHOLD, SR. 

